Checkers Run over Rochester with 6-2 Rout
October 5, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
ROCHESTER, NY - The Checkers opened up their ninth season in the AHL with some offensive fireworks, rolling over the Rochester Americans 6-2.
It took some time for the offense to kick in, but Janne Kuokkanen opened the season's scoring with a power-play marker late in the first, followed seconds later by a seeing-eye point shot from Roland McKeown to double the Charlotte advantage going into the second.
The home team punched back in the middle frame, evening the score with a pair of their own, but Kuokkanen connected on an odd-man rush with Nicolas Roy to put the Checkers back on top 3-2 through 40 minutes of play.
The Checkers hit their stride in the third period and pulled away from the Americans, with Kuokkanen notching his second of the night just 72 seconds in followed by Andrew Poturalski pulling of a beautiful toe drag through traffic to extend the lead to three goals before the four minute mark even hit.
Charlotte's power play tacked on one more in the third for good measure, with Roy netting his second goal of the game to seal a lopsided 6-2 victory for the visiting Checkers.
Alex Nedeljkovic was called upon for the start, stopping 22 of the 24 attempts he was faced with, while the Checkers peppered Rochester netminder Scott Wedgewood with 39 shots on the night.
Goal Summary
PERIOD TIME TEAM GOAL ASSIST ASSIST SCORE
1 12:24 CHA Kuokkanen (1) Carrick McKegg PP 1-0 CHA
1 12:59 CHA McKeown (1) Smallman Geekie - 2-0 CHA
2 0:32 ROC Smith (1) Criscuolo Pilut - 2-1 CHA
2 14:59 ROC Pilut (1) Olofsson Porter PP 2-2
2 19:13 CHA Roy (1) Kuokkanen Poturalski - 3-2 CHA
3 1:12 CHA Kuokkanen (2) Gauthier Roy - 4-2 CHA
3 3:37 CHA Poturalski (1) Smallman Renouf - 5-2 CHA
3 7:16 CHA Roy (2) Poturalski Kuokkanen PP 6-2 CHA
Notes
The Checkers improved to 5-3-1 in their first game of the season, with tonight marking their largest-ever margin of victory in those games. All nine season openers took place on the road ... Kuokkanen (2g, 2a) recorded his third career game with at least four points ... This was Roy's first career multi-goal game. He also tied his career high with three points and set a new career best with a game-high nine shots on goal ... Spencer Smallman had two assists in his AHL debut ... Morgan Geekie picked up an assist in his first professional game ... Defenseman Michal Cajkovsky posted a game-high, plus-3 rating in his Checkers debut ... Dan Renouf had an assist in his first game as a Checker ... Charlotte converted on two of its three power-play opportunities ... Defenseman Josiah Didier missed the game due to injury ... Forwards Nick Schilkey and Zack Stortini and defenseman Michael Fora were healthy extras.
Up Next
The Checkers and Americans will square off again tomorrow night at 7:05.
American Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2018
- Post Game Notes: Stars vs. Griffins - Texas Stars
- Wolf Pack Ride Big First to 4-2 Win over Providence - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Monsters Cruise Past IceHogs in Home Opener, 4-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Marlies Rout Comets in Season Opener - Utica Comets
- Checkers Run over Rochester with 6-2 Rout - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Comeback Falls Short against Pack in Opener - Providence Bruins
- Blues Assign Fitzpatrick to Tulsa - San Antonio Rampage
- Flames Assign Curtis Lazar to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Alt Named Seventh Captain in Colorado Eagles History - Colorado Eagles
- IceHogs Announce Season-Opening Roster - Rockford IceHogs
- Roadrunners Announce 2018 Opening Night Roster - Tucson Roadrunners
- Rocket Announces 2018-19 Opening Night Roster - Laval Rocket
- Toronto Marlies to Welcome Fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum for Home Opener on Thanksgiving - Toronto Marlies
- American Hockey League's 83rd Season Begins Tonight - AHL
- Ontario Reign Announce Opening-Night Roster - Ontario Reign
- Flames Recall Rasmus Andersson - Stockton Heat
- Burgdoerfer Named Belleville Senators Captain - Belleville Senators
- Iowa Wild Announces 2018-19 Team Captains and Opening Night Roster - Iowa Wild
- Heat Submit Opening Night Roster - Stockton Heat
- Marlies Kick off Campaign against Comets - Toronto Marlies
- Heat Open Regular Season on the Road in Bakersfield at 7PM - Stockton Heat
- Condors Home Opener and $2 Beers Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- the Rocket Hockey Tour: Here We Go Again - Laval Rocket
- T-Birds Season Opens Saturday; Roster Revealed - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Blues Assign Mikkola to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Hershey Bears Set 2018-19 Opening Night Roster - Hershey Bears
- Marlies Announce Opening Night Roster - Toronto Marlies
- Sound Tigers Announce Season-Opening Roster - Bridgeport Islanders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
